Help with housing and transit among Mississauga’s asks from federal, provincial governments
Published February 6, 2023 at 5:09 pm
Mississauga is pushing provincial and federal governments for help in getting important transit projects in the city completed and ensuring enough affordable housing can be built to meet the growing demand in the next decade and beyond.
Those are among the biggest financial “asks” from the City of Mississauga as governments in Queen’s Park and Ottawa prepare to tackle their budgets for the coming year.
Mississauga council last week endorsed the City’s 2023 federal and provincial pre-budget submissions. Municipalities across Ontario are putting together similar wish lists for consideration by upper levels of government.
Mississauga’s submissions include recommendations that “ensure the city remains inclusive, world-class and resilient while addressing day-to-day pressures like the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation, as well as dealing with the impacts of issues like housing affordability, traffic and congestion, climate change, and job creation and investment,” a City spokesperson said in a news release issued today (Feb. 6).
Mayor Bonnie Crombie has repeatedly identified getting the downtown core transit loop reinstated as part of the Hurontario light rail transit (LRT) project as a top priority.
“Maintaining the services and high quality of life that our residents deserve and have come to expect are more important than ever as we continue to support our city’s recovery from the pandemic,” said Crombie in the news release. “From delivering reliable public transit to addressing the housing crisis to building more complete, walkable and sustainable communities, we’re taking strides to build a bright and prosperous future for Mississauga. Cities like Mississauga are the backbone of our province and country, and we know that city building is nation building. Strong, long-term and predictable funding partnerships and investments from our federal and provincial partners play a critical role in service delivery, and even more so during times of economic uncertainty.”
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Mississauga’s pre-budget submissions include recommendations to:
- pause implementation of Bill 23 and fully compensate the City of Mississauga for any and all financial losses incurred as a result of the legislation
- work with municipalities to develop new revenue and funding tools, as well as predictable funding streams, to ensure cities can fulfill their responsibilities and properly invest in infrastructure growth and renewal
- provide the additional Justices of the Peace required to address the growing backlog of Provincial Offences Act notices in the court system
- provide funding and support necessary to assist the City of Mississauga in achieving its priority transit projects
- provide investments in projects that mitigate the impacts of climate change
- partner with cities to fund and build affordable housing to close the supply gap and ensure everyone has a safe place to live
- continue targeted support for sectors hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic
- prioritize investments that support a fair and inclusive economic recovery including access to affordable childcare and providing adequate sick pay
- develop and fund education and skills-retraining programs to ensure an adequate supply of labour in the trades and construction industry to meet the demands as a result of the province’s housing target of 1.5 million homes in 10 years (120,000 in Mississauga)
Shari Lichterman, Mississauga’s acting city manager and chief administrative officer, said the City of Mississauga continues to be a “strong municipal partner with a thriving local economy and a lean and effective government,” but it needs help from Queen’s Park and Ottawa.
“Now more than ever, increasing costs exceed the revenue we can generate through property taxes and user fees. To continue providing the programs and services our residents rely on every day, we need our federal and provincial partners to support our recommendations,” she said.
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